Instep-arch support.



' nally under man srn'rns refinar serien.

WILLIAM M. SCHOLL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INSTEP-ARCH SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Eat-.sented inne i5, i915,

Application filed January 29, 191:2. Serial No. 674,058.

arch support in which the supporting sur-y face is given forni by theYjoint effect of two plates, relatively large extent, and the other anauxiliary plate of relatively lesser extent, partly overlying the mainplate and entending laterally beyond the inain plate to constitute awing extension upwardly curved to conform. to the inner plantar surfaceof the foot arch.

Another object of my invention lis to soy construct the parts of thedevice that an adjustincnt thereof can be 'readily effected; the twoplates, to this end, being made readily separable or detachable so thateach plate may be treated separately, at the time the arch is fitted tothe purchaser`s foot, to give each plate the most appropriate shape tofit the foot of the individual user".

Other objects of my invention-will become apparent to those sliilled inthe art from thefollowing description taken in eonjunction with thedrawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of the inain andauxiliaryplates, with the cover piece shown in dotted lines:l Fig. 2 isa transverse section on line Z--Q of Fig. l, with cover piece in place;Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3 3 of Fig. l; and Figi is aperspective view of the two plates separated.

ln the drawings 5 indicates the inain plate, preferably shaped in planto lie longitudithe human foot from a point under the heel thereof to apoint under the ball of the foot, and toprovide on its under sidebearing areas at both ends. The outer edge of the plate is preferablycurved to lie substantially parallel with the outer side of the foot,and its inner edge is preferably shaped approximately to follow the lineo f the second inetatarsal and the second cunein forin bones, so thatthe plate is preferably narrowed in plan at its waistwhere itunderliesportions ofthe scaphoid and cuneiform bones.

the one a base plate of appropriate Overlying the base plate 5, l provide an auxiliary plate G shorter than the base plate and of such widthas to have its outer edge lie within the outer edge of the main plate,

and at its inner edge to extendY up along the 3;

high inside arch of the instep in the forni of a wing extension 7. Theedge of the wing 7, overhanging the inner edge of the main or baseplate, is preferably slit laterally for flexibility. The two plates aremade jointly e5 to provide an arch structure substantially conforming tothe instep arch, and each providing a portion of the foot bearingsurface.

4Thus the-portions of the inain plate lying beyond the auxiliary plat-eat the ends and the outer side of the latter, are arched to conform tothe corresponding portions of the foot and the auxiliary plate is archedlongitudinally and curved transversely for substantial conformitywitlrthe higher portion A7,5

of the instep arch defined by the under and` inner surfaces ofthe'ast-ragalus and scaphoid bones. p

The inner edge of the main plate portion at the narrowed waist thereofis preferably curved upward at 9, in conformity with the curvature ofthe auxiliary plate, and for strengthening purposes the main plate maybe advantageously provided witli a depressed bead extending along itshigher arched por g5 tion. For use the plates are suitably securedtogether and their receiving sui-races are overlain by a cover piece il,of appropiiate shape to lit the' shoe, such cover being preferably ofleather with the usual sliived 9e edges.

The structure thus far described provides an advantageous arrangementwhereby the 4longitudinal central portion of the arch,

higher part of the inwhich underlies the step, isadvantageouslystrengthened, and the receiving surface formed jointly bythe two plates lends itself readily, in manufacture, to formation in theproper config uration'to support the arch of the foot,'100

thereby to make a very eiiicient and cornfortable support. i I

For effecting most advantageous coperation between the inain andauxiliary plates so that the auxiliary plate may be adequately secured'to the main plate when in use and yet be readily detachable therefrom,and 'so that the auxiliary plate may eiiqectively merge into theinain'plate in a practically liush Ijoint, l preferably construct iiewhich the endsl and the outer edge. of the auxiliary plate bear isdepressed to a depth of substantially the thickness of theauxiliary/plate so forming a recess in which the .said edgesof theauxiliary plate `may neatlyI lit, leaving the foot receiving surfaces ofsaid plates 5 and 6 flush at their joints. The .n

end Walls of the recess 12 thusl provided U n preferably convergesomewhat andmerge 1n appropriate curves into the side. Wall 13, whichforms a shoulder or abutment against which 4the outer edge of theauxiliary plate may bear. rlhe leather cover piece is preferably securedto the main plate only, so as to form with said Ina-in plate a pocketinto which the auxiliary plate may be readily inserted and from which itis detachable. Preferably 'two rivets lli located near the inner edge ofthe main plate'and close to the end Wallof the recess 12, to secure thecover piece to the main plate. In such position the rivets 14 act as aguiding means to direct y.the insertion of the auxiliary plate intosition of use, from the inner side of the evice.- To obviate allpossibility-of the outer edge of the auxiliary plate 'riding over theshoulder' 13 and taking an improper position with respect to thevmainplate-5, I provide Within the confines of the recess 12, near the Wall13, aflat headed rivet I5 and provide in the auxiliary plate 6.acorresponding notch i6, with its edges beveled as at 17, so that,

- as shown inFig. 2, the head of the rivet 15 lying substantially flushwith the top of the auxiliary plate 6, may act as an effective retainerfor said auxiliary plate.

lt is obviously advantageous that an in! step arch support be readilyadjustable to the .foot of the individual user and this de- .sid`nncribed.v AManifestly the auxiliarypla'te b may be readily detachedfrom its position in use; may be easily formed tothe desirable curvatureto fit the highest part of the instep' arch; and further,l for elevationor depression of the higher side of .the arch' the inner edge 9 of themain plate, may be raised or lowered thereby to change the effectivebearing point of the auxiliary plate` and fixing to a certainextent' thedesiredA adjustment ofthe auxiliary member. When proper adjustment ismade the auxiliary ,plate may be readily slipped back into its pocket,and detained against accidental displacement. by the positioning meansdescribed. If desired the main plate may be sold in conjunction withaplurality of 'differently arched auxiliary plates, so that the user mayselect the auxiliary yplate of conformation best suited to his feet.

While I have herein described'an embodiment of my invention it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that Amanges may be eratum issubserved by the constructionr made in the details thereof Withoutdepar-i.

ture from the spirit of my invention and Within the scope of theappended claims.

lVhat I claim is: Y

1. In an instep arch support,the combinai tion of a main plate arrangedto bear at its ends on the sole of a shoe, s aid main plate y having aportionof its upper surface re-v cessed intermediate'its ends, 'saidrecess ex-y f tending through the inner side of the main plate only, andan auxiliary plate having a portion shaped to fit Within said recessandhaving a Wing extension beyond the innerkv edge of the mainplate, theinner edge portion of the main plate meeting said auxiliary plate atanangle thereto.

2. In an instep arch support, the'combina-r tion'of a main platearranged to bear at its ends on the sole of a shoe, said main plate,

sion beyond the inneredge of the main plate,

esy

and'means carried by the main plate and positioned at the ends of therecessed portion to coperate with the edges of the auxilia plate toprevent vertical movement thereo 3. In an instep arch support, thecombination of a main plate arranged to bear at its ends, on the sole ofa shoe, said main plate I. i

having a portion of its upper surface recessed lnterinedlate its ends,said recess openingto the innerv side only of the main'y plate, and anauxiliar plate having one portion shaped to con orm to the outlinesofthe recessed portion of the main plate and l,

having a Wing extension beyond the inner edge of said main plate, themain plate bel ingsharply upturned transversely at its'innerl edge, andprovided with a longitudinal groove at the base of theupturned"portion,' vand the auxiliary plate having a transversecurvature less than that of the uptu'rned portion of the main plate. u'

arranged to bear at its ends onthesole of a. shoe, said main platehaving a portion of its 4.' In an' instep arch support, aemain plate fupper surface recessed intermediate its ends', said recess opening tothe lnnerslde only of 'f the main plate, a cover piece overlying saldmain plate and attached vthereto near the ends of said recessed portionof the main.

plate, andan auxiliary plate having one portion shaped to conform to therecessed portion of the main plate, and having a wing extension beyondthe inner ridge ofthe main plate.

. l. 5. In an arch support, the combination of a main plate arranged tobear at its ends on the sole of a shoe, said main plate having a portionof its `upper surface recessed intermediate its ends, said recessextending Vue i through the innersde of the main plate only, a coverpiece overlying said mainI plate and attached thereto' near theends ofthe recessed poton forming therewith a pocket, and an auxiliary platehaving one portion shaped Lo t Athe said pocket, the llnnel` edge of themain plete having an 11p-turned portion and the auxiliary plate having aWing 'extension beyond the inner edge of the main l0 plate, saidau'xilary plate bearing on the upturnecl edge of the inner plate andmeans detaehably Securing the inner edge of the auxlary pla-te to themain pla f f Y In testimony whereof hereunio set my hand in the presenceof two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SCHOLL.

